Hire a Pro? Or Tackle Your Project On Your Own

I'm excited to announce that I'll be speaking at the upcoming Georgia Libraries Association conference they are holding with the Society of Georgia Archivists in October.  The theme of the conference this year is Leading Georgia Forward, Together and it's being held in Athens, Georgia.  The dates are October 2-4.  If you haven't already registered you can do so HERE.  One of the two slots I'll be covering is the topic of when to hire a professional and when to handle your own projects.  We've talked about this before, so I'm keeping this post short to give you a bit of an overview for this topic without too much repetition.  I hope to see you there!

If indecision paralysis is slowing down your Programming Documents, then Schedule a free zoom call with me today and I'll help you take the next step. 

So what projects make the best do it yourselfers?  Here are a few scenarios where this can be beneficial to you:

• You just want to paint a few walls and add some new carpet - don't overthink it.  If you just need to paint the public areas and install new flooring, you can probably tackle this one yourself.

• You have the time to make a few calls and meet with the installers - it doesn't take a monumental amount of time to reach out to your local flooring and paint professionals to schedule a time for them to walk the space with you and give you a cost estimate.  Just make sure you get at least three quotes and that everyone is quoting the same amount of work and material.

• You know what color paint you want to use and what carpet you plan to put down - this one can be slightly intimidating to most first-timers, so if you don't know where to begin, refer back to my previous blog posts on this topic to discover your local flooring reps and to learn my tips on applying color to your space.  If you have trouble finding any of that information, just reply to this email and I will be happy to get you all straightened out!

• You have a (small) team of decision makers at the ready - Don't go overboard and invite the entire staff to throw in their two-cents worth.  It will cause way more headache than you can handle.  But grab a team of two (maybe three max) trusted staff members and enlist them to help you through this process.

If you're shaking your head no to most of the above bullet points with a fear-stricken look on your face, then this project may call for the pros.  See below to discover when the project is just too big for you and what to do about it:

• You want to paint, install new flooring everywhere, install a little wallcovering and any other cosmetic detail that might need attention - if this is an all-out interior finishes-only renovation without the moving of walls, then by all means interview contractors and hire the professional that can meet your budget and gives you all the feels.  Life is too short, don't work with someone you aren't compatible with.

• You want to re-do your information counters - A reputable contractor will know how to to get this done and will have an equally reputable millwork professional to help you with this part of your project.

• You just don't have the time or staff power to go it alone - They do, so bring someone you like working with on board and let them guide you each step of the way.  Make sure you're hiring a commercial contractor or even a licensed light commercial contractor.  Avoid residential in this case since the scope of work and resources are VERY different animals.

And if you're reading this blog post and find yourself with a list of questions you've made along the way, either reply back to me or join the Facebook Group HERE to get the answers you're looking for.  You really can do this yourself, and I really can show you how.